You've been very helpful.
Thank you!
Recurring boils are very common, and the location you describe -- the crease between the thigh and groin -- probably the most common site. Herpes outbreaks and boils are not similar at all; they don't look similar and don't behave the same way; the two conditions would never be confused by a knowledgeable provider.
Since you haven't had a repeat outbreak of your genital HSV-1 for 13 years, most likely you never will; and you probably are not infectious for sex partners. This really shouldn't be a worry for you.
Thank you very much for your quick response. FYI..the original lesion was confirmed through a culture but never recurred in or near that spot. The only recurring bumps I have are on the inner thigh/bikini line. when I had asked my dr what it was when she told me it wasn't herpes she said probably just a boil. I never heard of recurring boils and compared to what I read on the net mine seemed too small and aren't at all painful. I guess I will have to speak to another Dr. about why it continues to recur-whatever it is . I know I''ll have herpes forever but it puts my mind at ease to know that most people already have HSV-1 and that atleast for now (and hopefully forever its non-recurring)
I'll try to help. First, it would be helpful to know whether the initial diagnosis of genital herpes was based solely on examination of the lesion, or also on lab testing. If a culture or PCR (DNA) test for HSV was positive, that nails the diagnosis for sure.
If the initial episode was genital herpes, it was due to HSV-1; otherwise the blood test would have been positive for HSV-2. But without knowing the result of an HSV test on the initial lesion, I cannot tell whether your the positive blood test is due to that infection or to an earlier childhood infection with the virus. (Half of all adults in the US have positive HSV-1 tests, mostly due to childhood infection, with or without known oral herpes outbreaks.)
As to all the other things you describe -- lesions on the face, elbows, inner thigh, etc -- there is no realistic chance that any of them is due to HSV. Same for "tiny bumps under the skin" of the bikini line or anywhere else. Recurrent genital herpes doesn't usually involve the pubic hair area. The negative test from the recently popped lesion is exactly what I would suspect, since herpes definitely isn't the cause.
And so to the specific questions:
1) Of all the symptoms you describe, only the iniital genital ulcer might have been herpes due to HSV-1. Even if that's what it was, you might not ever have a recurrent oubreak. Repeated genital herpes outbreaks are mostly a problem of HSV-2, not genital HSV-1. As to why it doesn't sound like herpes, HSV just doesn't cause the sorts of symptoms you describe. Recurrent herpes ourbreaks always occur every time in more or less the same spot, give or take an inch. Such widespread skin problems cannot be herpes.
2) Folliculitis definitely recurs, but most of what you describe doesn't sound like folliculitis any more than herpes.
3) Not from herpes; see above.
4) Herpes outbreaks never alternate from one side of the body to the other. See the comment above about herpes recurrences always happening at more or less the same spot every time.
5) I have never seen a case of genital HSV-1 in someone who had oral herpes since childhood. If that happens at all, it is very rare.
Bottom line: You need to work with your health care provider about the actual cause(s) of the various skin problems you describe; they aren't herpes. If you have not seen a dermatologist, that would be a good step.
I hope this helps. Best wishes-- HHH, MD